Convertible shipping container and method of producing same



June 23, 1959 Eg F. REPKING 2,891,710

CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING CQNTAINEIR` AND METHODOF PRODUCING SAME FICA-5J.'If/9 z/ United States n Patent Ctice v2,891,710 Patented June 23, 1959CONVERTIBLE SHIPPING CONTAINER AND IVIETHOD F PRODUCING SAlVlE Edward F.Repking, Glasgow, Mo., assignor to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, SanFrancisco, Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application May 7, 1956,serial No. 583,068

s claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention appertains to a shipping containermade of solid tibreboard, corrugated tibreboard and other similarbendable materials and, in particular, a shipping container that may beconverted into a display container at destination.

It is often desirable to provide shipping containers for bottled goodsand other consumer items which may be converted at destination toprovide a display means for exhibition of the contents, for example, inretail stores and the like. It is therefore a primary object of thisinvention to provide, in a shipping container, means for readily andeasily converting the container into a stepped display stand for thecontents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of more orless standard configuration which is scored to provide a stepped,shelf-like display stand when the walls of the container are slit alongpre-determined lines.

A further object is to provide a convertible displayshipping containerwhich may be made into a display device without requiring special tools,adhesives or other fastening means.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon a clear and complete understanding of theconstruction of the invention.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombination of parts hereinafter described and claimed. The accompanyingdrawings form part of this specication 'and like numerals and symbolstherein refer to like parts wherever they occur.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank embodying a preferred form of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a completely erected container embodyingthe invention, ready for shipment;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a container embodying the inventionbeing slit to provide for conversion into a display stand;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 3 wherein atportions of the end walls are folded inwardly preparatory to convertingthe container into a display stand;

Fig.y 5 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 4 in afurther stage of the conversion of the container into a display stand; Y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a still further stage of the conversionof the container into a display stand;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of still another stage of the conversion ofthe shipping container into a display stand;

Fig., 8 is a perspective view of a completed display stand formed fromthe container illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

The blank illustrated in Fig. 1, which embodies a preferred form of theinvention, is provided with a front wall 10 and back wall 11 defined inparticular by a top score 12, a bottom score 13 and corner scores 14. Apair of end walls 15 are also deiined by a top score 12, a bottom score13 and corner scores 14. In the particular embodiment of the containerblank A illustrated, a relatively narrow sealing ap 16 is foldablyconnected to one of the comer scores 14. Also provided are top end ilaps17 foldably connected to the end walls 15 along the top score 12. Bottomend flaps 18 are similarly foldably connected to the end walls 15 alongthe bottom score line 13.

Top half cover aps 19 are foldably connected to the front wall 10 andback wall 11 along the top score 12, while bottom half cover aps arefoldably connected to the front and back walls along the bottom score13.

In the particular embodiment of the container blank described, arelatively narrow Hap slot 21 is provided intermediate adjacent apmembers.

A primary score or fold line 22 is provided to extend the entire lengthof the front wall 10, as shown in Fig. 1. The primary score 22 isdisposed intermediate and parallel to the top score 12 and the bottomscore 13 which deiine the front wall 10. The primary score line 22extends across and beyond the corner scores 14 which define the frontwall 10 and terminates substantially half way between the corner scores14 defining the adjacent end walls. An auxiliary score line 23 isdisposed in spaced relation below and parallel to the primary score 22.The auxiliary score line 23 extends the entire length of the front wall10 and terminates at the corner scores 14 which define the front wall10. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the space between theprimary scores 22 and the score 23 is preferably substantially equal to1/6 the height of the front wall.

The containers blank A may be erected and filled in any suitable manner,however, a preferred method is tofold the back wall 11 inwardly andupwardly about its adjacent corner score 14 into atwise contactingrelation with the adjacent end wall 15 and front wall 10. The

endmost end wall 15 isthen foldedinwardly and upwardly I 16 may beomitted and the blank may be secured by tape ,or the like. The containeris now erected by folding the front and back walls 11 and the end walls15 about their corner scores 14 to form a tubular, rectangular body'section.

Next, the bottom end aps 18 are folded right angularly inwardly abouttheir adjacent bottom scores 13. The bottom half cover flaps 20 are thenfolded inwardlyabout their adjacent body score 13 and secured in atwiserelation against the previouslypositioned bottom end flaps 18. Thecontainer is now ready for loading.

After the container is loaded, the top` is sealed by folding the top endaps 17 right angularly inwardly about the adjacent top scores 12. Thetop half cover flaps 19 are then folded inwardly about their adjacenttop scores 12' and securedY in flatwise contacting relation to thepreviportion 24, shown in the blank A of Fig. 1. The vertical.

slit lines 24 extend substantially vertically downwardly from the topscore 12 defining the end walls 15, and terminate at the end point 25 ofthe primary score 4line 22.

The container is also manually slit or severed along a corner slit line26. The corner slit line 26 is indicated by the dotted line portionshown in Fig. l and extends coextensively with the corner score lines 14which define the side edges of the front wall 16. The corner slit lines26 extend from the top score line 12 downwardly to the end points 27 ofthe auxiliary score line 23.

In addition, the end walls 15 are slit along top slit lines 23 which areconterminous with the top score line and extend `from the vertical slitlines 24 to the corner slit line 26. The top slit lines 28 are indicatedby the dotted line portion of score 12 shown in Fig. l.

The manual slitting or severing of lines 24, 26 and 28 defines a bracingor reinforcing tab 29 which is folded right angularly inwardly about theend portions of the primary score line as shown in Fig. 4. With thebracing tabs 29 folded inwardly as described, the frontmost top halfcover ap is manually forced inwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 5,about a flap score 3i), positioned in substantially conterminousrelation with the adjacent vertical slit line 24 and extends from thetop score 12 to the free outer edge of the top end iap 17. As theifrontmost top half cover flap is folded inwardly, the upper half 31 ofthe front wall l() will bend angularly outwardly as shown in thedrawings. Also, an auxiliary panel 32, which is defined by the primaryscore 22, the auxiliary score 23 and portions of the corner slit line26, will be disposed angularly upwardly and outwardly about theauxiliary score 23.

As shown in Fig. 6, as the frontmost top half cover flap is foldedfurther inwardly, the auxiliary panel 32 is approximately horizontallyoutward in position permitting sufficient clearance to permit the tophalf of the front wall l() to move inwardly in horizontal relationagainst the previously positioned bracing tabs 29. The completelyerected display container is shown in Fig. 8. ln this position, thefrontmost top half cover flap is positioned vertically downwardly withrespect to its adjacent back top cover flap and the flap scores 3i), andthe top half of the front wall l is in atwise contacting relation withthe bracing tabs 29. The auxiliary panel 32 will be in verticalconterminous relation with the lower portion of the front wall panel 10to provide a smooth, unobstructed exterior for the display stand. Thepreviously, inwardly disposed bracing tab 29 acts to engage and supportthe underface of the top half of the front wall l0. The contents whichhave been removed from the container may be placed on the back top halfcover 19 and on the inwardly folded upper half of the front wall l0. Thecompletely erected display container has end walls of substantiallyL-shaped configuration, the end walls having a recess formed therein. Asseen in Fig. 8, the L-shaped end wall visible in this ligure has arecess formed in the upper left-hand corner thereof, the recess havinghorizontal and vertical margins.

It is intended that the invention will be susceptible of embodiments incontainers of various dimensions and proportions. However, for purposesof illustration, one embodiment of the invention is in a containerhaving a depth of ll inches, a height of 12 inches and a length of linches. The particular dimensioned embodiment described is `designed tocontain 12% quart bottles of beverage. The horizontal display panelwhich is formed from the upper portion of the front wall l) isapproximately 51/2 inches in depth, or, in other words, substantially1/2 the entire depth of the container. Downwardly disposed top halfcover flap member 19 is also approximately 51/2 inches in width. Theauxiliary panel 32 is approximately 2 inches in width or, in otherwords, approximately 1/6 the height of the container.

Of course, the dimensional relationship of the walls and top closurepanels may be varied to accommodate different size articles, In theparticular embodiment described, the horizontal inwardly disposeddisplay panel will readily lcontain two parallel rows of the bottledgoods.

lt is also possible to employ the space within the container,particularly within the back half of the container to store the contentsif desired.

It is to be understood that the embodiments herein described areillustrative and not restrictive, and it is also to be understood thatthe invention may be susceptible of embodiments in other modified forms,and that all such modifications which are similar or equivalent heretocome equally within the scope of the claims next appearing.

What l claim is:

l. ln a stepped display `device `convertible from a rectangularparallelepiped shipping container; the device comprising opposedupstanding L-shaped end walls each having a recess with horizontal andvertical margins, a relatively tall upstanding back wall, a relativelyshort upstanding front wall, and a display area having a horizontalshelf foldably connected at its front edge to a relatively narrow,vertically disposed auxiliary panel foldably connected to saidupstanding front wall and having free marginal end edges, and anupstanding panel substantially equal in width to said horizontal shelffoldably connected along the back edge of the horizontal shelf andfoldably connected along its upper edge to a top wall.

2. A parallelepiped container convertible to a merchandise displaydevice, the container comprising opposed pairs of upstanding front andback and end walls connected together along corner defining scores, eachend wall having inwardly disposed top and bottom end closure apsconnected respectively to their upper and lower margins along top andbottom fold lines, and the front and back walls each having inwardlydisposed cover aps respectively connected thereto along top and bottomscore lines and fixedly secured to adjacent portions of the top andbottom end aps respectively, a primary fold line extending entirelyacross the front wall substantially midway the height thereof andextending conterminously onto the end walls a distance substantiallyequal to one half the height of the front wall, an auxiliary fold linedisposed adjacent to and in spaced parallel relation to the primary foldline, the upper portion of the front wall panel defined by the primaryscore and the front wall top thereof fold line being disposedhorizontally inwardly, and the front wall top flap and the end wallclosure flap portions secured thereto being disposed verticallydownwardly, foldable end wall portions connected to the end walls alongend portions of said primary score and defined by one cut extendingvertically upwardly from the end extremities of the primary score, asecond cut extending from the auxiliary score to the top fold of thefront wall along the corner defining score intermediate the front walland the end wall, and a third cut extending along `the top fold line ofthe end wall between the upper ends of the first and second cuts.

3. The `invention set forth and claimed in claim 2 wherein a reliefpanel is provided foldably connected to the front wall panel along anauxiliary score line positioned in spaced parallel relation to theprimary score line and terminating at the corner scores intermediate thefront wall and the end wall.

4. The `invention set forth and claimed in claim 3 wherein the end walltop flaps are provided with crease lines extending from their free outermargins to the top fold defining their connection to the end walls inalignment with said rst cuts.

5. A container blank for a shipping container which may be convertedinto a display device, the blank having alternating pairs of end wallpanels and alternating pairs of side wall panels connected togetheralong upstanding corner defining fold lines, each end wall panel andside wall panel having a foldably connected top marginal closure flap,one of the side wall panels defining a front wall of the container andbeing provided with a substantially horizontal primary score lineintermediate its height extending along lits entire length and extendingto approximately midway the height of the adjacent end wall panels, thefront dening side wall panel also having an auxiliary score linedisposed below the primary score line in spaced parallel relationthereto and 'terminating at the vertical side margins of the front sideWall panel, and a rst pair of lines of future severance disposed alongthe said vertical side margins of the front side wall panel andextending from the top of the said front Wall panel downwardly andterminating adjacent lthe auxiliary score line, a second pair of linesof future severance disposed vertically upwardly from the ends of theprimary score line and terminating adjacent `the top margin of thecontainer end wall panel, score lines extending vertically from the endwall panel top score line in alignment with said second pair of lines offuture severance and terminating at the outer free edges of the end walltop aps, and a third pair of lines of future severance extending inconterminous relation along the top score dening the upper margin of thecontainer end Wall panel in between the corner defining scoreintermediate `the end Wall panel and the front Wall panel and the upperend of the second line of severance.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

